Reversible cable-guide bracket



July 27 1926.

C. E. BASTON REVERSIBLE CABLE GUIDE BRACKET Filed, June 29, 1922 |N;VENTOR @4775. 50678 'ATT ORNEY WITNESSES: 2

Patented my "'21, 1926.

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. YRIE E. BASTON, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

REVERSIBLE CABLE-GUIDE BRACKET.

My invention relates to cable-gathering devices, more especially to a guide bracket for guiding the cable as it is unreeled from or gathered by the winding drum.

It is among the objects ofthis invention to .provide a guide bracket which shall be of simple construction, which shall be simple in its operation and easily manipulated without the use of tools by the operator.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device of the above designated character which shall function to guide the cable from either side of the reeling device wilthout altering the position of thereel itse It is often desirable, as on mine locomotives, used in gathering service to provide an extension cable for use in connecting the driving motor to the trolley Wire when operatin from the main line where a trolley can not e used. In'this kind of operation, it is sometimes necessary to operate from both' sides of themain line and, to do this efficiently, it is necessary to provide means for paying out and gathering the extension line from both sides of the reeling mechanism.

My invention is directed to a guide bracket whichlis reversible and permits operating the extension line or cable from either side of the locomotive. p

In the accompanying drawings constituting a part hereof and in which like reference characters designate like parts,

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a reversi 1e guide bracket ,made in' accordance with this invention; and p Fig. 2 is an end view thereof showing the guide bracket secured to the main support of the reeling device.

The reversible guide bracket consists of a pair of supporting columns 1 formin an integral partof the drum support 2 w ich is mounted on a suitable base plate 3. A cross-rod 4 is rigidly secured between the supports 1- and constitutes a guide rod for a guidebracket 5 which is movably 'mounted on a bushing 6.' A double acting "screw 7 1s rotatably mounted in the supporting brackets 1 underneath the guide rod 4 parallel therewith and is connected, through -a gear train housed in the casing-8, to thedrivmg mechanism of the drum 9.. I

The guide bracket}; is provided with a plurality of stop lugs '10 co-operating with stop member 10 to limit its angular movement on the bushing 6 and is further connected to the screw 7 by a loose fittin tongue 11 which seats in a into the bracket 5.

A guide bushing 13 of an insulating mater1al, such as porcelain, having an opening nut 12 screwe .14 extending therethrough, is secured to the guide arm 5 by U-bolts 15. A sheave Wheel 16 of insulating material is rotatably' mounted on the bushing 6' and is provided with a grooved periphery 17 in alignment with the opening 14 of the guide bushing 13. The guide bracket 5 is adapted to pivot on the cross rod 4 and may be in either position, as shown by the dotted lines, to provide an unimpeded path for a cable 18 passing therethrough.

One .end of the cable 18 is secured to a terminal 19 in alignment with a slip ring 20 mounted on the drum 9 from which the current is collected by brushes 21 connected to the terminal 19. The free end of the cable is attached to the trolley wire on the main line to establish a circuit between the power line and the driving motor. 80

My'apparatus operates briefly as follows: The cable 18 is disposed in the groove 17 of the sheave wheel .16 and through the opening 14 of the guide bushing 13. In the winding of the cable through the guide bushing, the screw 7 is rotated, causin the guide bracket to move in a horizontal irection along the guide rod 4 to distribute the cable evenly on the face of the drum -9. Since the screw 7 has a' left and right hand thread,.the tongue 11, held .by the nut 12, follows each in turn back andiorth along. the guide rod 4, causing the cable to be wound in even layers on the drum.

- If the cable 18 is to be distributed in the direction of the winding mechanism, the

bracket 5 is turned 180 degrees, assuming It will be readily understood from the above description of my invention that a reversible cable guide bracket made in accordance therewith provides a simple and inexpensive device for cable-gathering reels Where it is necessary to feed the cable inopposite directions at different times and that such a device provides a simple means for accomplishing a changeover in direction Without the use of hand tools, or the like.

Although I have described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the details of construction thereof without departing from i the principles herein set forth. For instance,

the shape and general structure of the cable guide bracket maybe varied in accordance with its function under various operating conditions. In place of the porcelain insulator, any suitable insulating material may be employed for the cable guide which may be secured to the guide bracket in any suitable manner.

I claim as my invention:

1. A cable guide comprising a pair of supporting brackets, a cross rod mounted thereon, a. guide bracket having a guide bushing secured thereto movably mounted on said cross rod, a sheave wheel centrally and rotatably mounted in said uide bracket and means for moving said guide bracket angularly on said cross-rod to guide the cable over or under said sheave wheel.

2. A cable guide comprising a pair of sup porting brackets, a cross-rod mounted thereon, a guide bracket having an insulating guide bushing secured thereto movably mounted on said cross arm, and. a sheave Wheel centrally. and-rotatably mounted in said guide bracket, said bracket being adapted to be pivoted through an angle of 180.

3. A cable guide comprising a pair of supporting brackets, a drum rotatably mounted thereon, a cross rod secured to said brackets,

a guide bracket having a porcelain guide bushing secured thereto pivotally mounted on said cross rod, a sheave Wheel centrally and rotatably mounted in said guide bracket, means for eifecting lateral movement of said guide bracket on said cross rod, and means .for disposing said bracket in such manner that the cable winding on or off said drum will pass over or under said sheave wheel.

4. A cable guide comprising a pair of supporting brackets, a cross rod mounted thereon, a guide bracket having a porcelain guide bushing secured thereto pivotally mounted on said cross rod, a sheave wheel centrally and rotatably nioun-t'e'd' in said guide bracket and means for effecting lateral and pivotal movement of said guide bracket on said cross-rod.

5. A cable guide comprising a pair of supporting brackets, a cross-rod mounted thereon, a guide bracket provided with stop lugs for supporting it in a horizontal posi-' tion and having an insulated guide bushing secured thereto movably mounted on said cross-rod, a sheave Wheel centrally and rotatably mounted in said guide bracket and means for effecting lateral movement of said guide bracket on said cross rod and means for providing angular movement of a portion of said bracket between the limits of a said stop lugs.

6. A able guide comprising a pair of support-mg brackets, a cross-rod mounted thereon, a guide bracket provided with stop lugs CYRIL E. BASTON. 

